Jean-Michel Cousteau’ Ocean Futures Society – Organization “committed to educating the public on marine conservation and finding sustainable solutions to protect our ocean planet.”
Ocean Conservancy – “5 Reasons You Depend on Healthy Fisheries” article from the nonprofit Ocean Conservancy.
SeaWeb – International charity with links to information on fisheries.
US: MarineBio – US-based nonprofit ocean conservation and research organization with information on sustainable fisheries.
US: American Fisheries Society – US-based nonprofit with regional chapters on organizations dedicated to fisheries and fisheries issues.
US: Institute for Fisheries Resources (IFR) – US nonprofit in San Francisco established by the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations (PCFFA) and works on its habitat protection program.
US: Marine Fish Conservation Network – A “coalition of commercial and recreational fishing associations, regional and national conservation groups, aquaria, and marine science organizations” dedicated to ocean fisheries.
US: US Department of Justice – Overview of “Protecting Ocean Fisheries – the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.” More information on the Act on the NOAA website, here.
US – Atlantic: Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission – A “deliberative body of the Atlantic coastal states, coordinating the conservation and management of 25 nearshore fish species” funded through a combination of member state dues and state and federal grants.
US – Florida: Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida – A nonprofit “that seeks to protect our outstanding animals and plants and the lands and waters they need to survive. We work closely with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and many other public and private partners.”
US – Maine: Maine Lobstermen’s Association – This association “advocates for a sustainable lobster resource and the fishermen and communities that depend on it.”
US – Pacific: NOAA Fisheries – A “joint effort between NOAA Fisheries Pacific Islands Regional Office and the Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, offering cutting-edge science to help inform management decisions in an ever-changing environment.”
US – Pacific: Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC) – Organization dedicated to “promote the better utilization of fisheries” for member states California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Alaska.
US – Pacific: Pelagic Fisheries Research Program – Provides scientific information on pelagic fisheries to the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council. Pelagic “refers to fish that live in the near-surface waters of the ocean, often far from shore.”
US- US Regional Fishery Management Councils – There are 8 councils in the United States. “The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) is the main law that governs fishing in U.S. federal waters, ranging from 3 to 200 miles offshore. First passed in 1976, the MSA established a 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and created eight regional fishery management councils to manage our nation’s marine fishery resources. This unprecedented management system gives fishery managers the flexibility to use local level input to develop management strategies appropriate for each region’s unique fisheries, challenges, and opportunities.”
Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council – Its jurisdiction “extends from three to 200 miles off the coasts of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, and nine to 200 miles off Texas and the west coast of Florida.”
Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council – Responsible for the “conservation and management of fishery resources within U.S. federal waters … fisheries from 3 to 200 miles off the coasts of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina (NC is also represented on the South Atlantic Council).”
New England Fishery Management Council – Responsible for “managing fishery resources from three to 200 miles off the coasts of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.”
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council – It is “responsible for the conservation and management of fish stocks within the federal 200-mile limit of the Atlantic off the coasts of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and east Florida to Key West.”
North Pacific Fishery Management Council – Responsible for “conserving and managing fishery resources in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) off Alaska. With jurisdiction over approximately 900,000-square-miles, the Council has primary responsibility for groundfish management in the Gulf of Alaska, Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands.”
Pacific Fishery Management Council – Has “jurisdiction over the 317,690 square mile exclusive economic zone off Washington, Oregon and California.”
III. Marine Life
Marine Species
American Cetacean Society – Its mission is to protect whales, dolphins, porpoises, and their habitats.
Hebridean Whale & Dolphin Trust – Charity that works “directly with local communities to ensure whales, dolphins and porpoises are protected and valued throughout Scotland’s west coast.”
International Whaling Commission – The Commission “undertakes extensive study and research on cetacean populations, develops and maintains scientific databases, and publishes its own peer reviewed scientific journal, the Journal of Cetacean Research and Management.”
Marine Connection – UK charity dedicated to dolphins, whales and porpoises.
Marine Life Information Network – MarLIN – An initiative of the Marine Biological Association of the UK that has a review of the “effects of human activities and natural events on marine species and habitats.”
Oceanic Research Group – Nonprofit “dedicated to the conservation of the world’s oceans and marine life through education.”
Oceans Research – Organization that “provides and facilitates innovative and dynamic research relevant to the management and conservation of Southern Africa’s wildlife.”
Pacific Marine Mammal Center – Pacific Marine Mammal Center Webcam shows the Laguna, Ca., nonprofit’s patients, marine animals, recuperating.
Point Blue – US-based nonprofit working “to help shape ocean management to reduce threats and ensure sustainable human uses, giving time for wildlife to adapt to climate change.”
Polar Bears International – International nonprofit with a focus only on polar bears, and posts video clips of them in action.
Project Seahorse – Conservation organization, and partner with University of British Columbia, Zoological Society of London, and John G. Shedd Aquarium, dedicated to protecting seahorses; iSeahorse.org tracks seahorse sightings.
Center for Biological Diversity – Nonprofit has an “Oceans” page that lists information on marine species they seek to protect.
Marine Mammal Commission – Independent US government agency with link to “Marine Mammal Species and Populations of Concern” page, including list of endangered or threatened marine wildlife.
Marine Life Information Network – MarLIN – An initiative of the Marine Biological Association of the UK that has a review of the “effects of human activities and natural events on marine species and habitats.”